Skimboard simulation pool and system for simulating skimboarding

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments of this invention disclose a self-contained, water inflated, and water filled, pool with a continuous source of filling water that allows users to skim, sluice, or slide on the surface of the water with personal water boards, such as skimboards.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relies for priority on the filing date, Jun. 12, 2007,of a Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/943,500, entitled“Apparatus for self-contained water board sports,” to inventor BrettBogar, all the contents of which are incorporated herein by thisreference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention generally relates to self contained water board sports.Moreover, it pertains specifically to a self-contained, water inflated,and water filled, pool with a continuous source of filling water thatallows users to skim, sluice, or slide on the surface of the water withpersonal water boards, such as skimboards.

BACKGROUND

Skimboarding is a water board sport that, until the present invention,was confined to beaches, lakes, rivers, ponds, or other natural sourcesof water. Skimboarding is a fun sport that, unlike surfing, does notrequire a large ocean wave. Skimboarding starts on the beach or dryland. The skimboarder stands within running distance from the point ofentry into the water with the skimboard in hand and waits for anincoming wave of any size to create an ideal skimboarding situation. Asthe desired incoming wave approaches, the skimboarder runs towards thewater. The board is dropped on the thin layer of water from a recedingwave or on the thicker layer of water in front of an incoming wave. Theskimboarder then mounts the board one foot at a time using a techniqueknown as the “One-Step” while properly positioning the feet andmaintaining balance towards the centre of the board. The skimboarderthen hydroplanes on the water. The skimboarder maintains thehydroplaning by “pumping” the board in an up and down or side to sidemanner. The skimboarder stops by turning the board into the beach orinto the incoming wave. Once the skimboarder is no longer hydroplaning,the skimboarder dismounts, grabs the board, and goes back to the beachto start all over again. Younger skimboarders, who do not have thebalance to stand on the board, may choose to kneel, sit, or lay on theboard as they hydroplane.

Currently, the commercially available self-contained water slides andpools do not allow users to simulate a skimboard hydroplaningexperience. First, the materials that the pools are made of are nottough enough to withstand a skimboarder impacting the side or bottom ofthe pool. Second, an air inflated pool is too rigid and light-weight toact as a proper base for skimboarding. Additionally, an air inflatedpool does not allow the surface of the water that fills the pool toalways be exactly level with the rigid sides of the pool. In otherwords, if the pool is placed on an incline, one side of the air inflatedpool will be lower and one side will be higher. The surface of the waterthat fills the pool will only be level with the lower end of the pooland not the higher end. A pool that has sides that are exactly levelwith the surface of the filling water is important in skimboardingbecause the skimboarder needs to be able to slowly exit the pool, ratherthan stop suddenly when a side is encountered. Third, the slip-and-slidetype water slides that are available do not simulate hydroplaning, butmerely low friction sliding. Finally, the pools and slides that arecurrently available are not the right size to allow a full and completehydroplaning experience. Thus, there remains a long-felt need in the artfor a self-contained, water inflated, and water filled, pool with acontinuous source of filling water that allows users to skim, sluice, orslide on the surface of the water with personal water boards, such asskimboards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To minimize the limitations in the prior art, and to minimize otherlimitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding thepresent specification, the present invention discloses a self-contained,water inflated, and water filled, pool with a continuous source offilling water that allows users to skim, sluice, or slide on the surfaceof the water with personal water boards, such as skimboards.

One embodiment of this invention is a skimboard simulation pool,comprising a plurality of inflatable walls and a bottom lining. Theplurality of inflatable walls and the bottom lining define a perimeterof an interior space that is open on a top of the skimboard simulationpool. The plurality of inflatable walls have an exterior surface and aninterior surface that enclose a liquid inflation fluid and the depth ofthe inflatable walls is adjustable by inflation or deflation. Theinterior space is continuously filled with a filling liquid such thatthe depth of the filling liquid matches the depth of the inflatablewalls. The filling liquid is delivered in a continuous and even flow.The filling liquid is delivered by an evenly spaced water spray system.Such a skimboard simulation pool further comprises a skimboard that iscapable of allowing a user to hydroplane on the surface of the skimboardsimulation pool.

Another embodiment of the invention is a system of simulatingskimboarding without using a natural body of water, comprising: aself-contained, water inflated, and water filled pool; a continuoussource of filling water; and a skimboard. The depth of the pool isadjustable. In the system, a user runs at the pool, places the skimboardon a surface of the filling water, steps onto the skimboard, andhydroplanes across the surface of the filling water. The sides of thepool do not abruptly stop the user, but instead deform and then rebound,in response to the user entering or exiting the pool.

An object of the present invention is to provide a safe, fun,high-impact, water inflated, and water filled, pool that allows users toskim, sluice, or slide on the surface of the water with personal waterboards, such as skimboards.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a skimboardingpool that will overcome the deficiencies of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system ofsimulating skimboarding without using a natural body of water.

Other features and advantages are inherent in the self-contained, waterinflated, and water filled, pool disclosed will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the following detailed description and itsaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of one embodiment of the skimboardsimulation pool.

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective illustration of one corner of oneembodiment of the skimboard simulation slide.

FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of one embodiment of the skimboardsimulation pool in use.

FIG. 4 is a detailed illustration of a cross-section of the skimboardsimulation pool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment,reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof,and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment inwhich the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that otherembodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

In the following detailed description of various embodiments of theinvention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of various aspects of one or more embodiments ofthe invention. However, one or more embodiments of the invention may bepracticed without these specific details. In other instances, well-knownmethods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in detailso as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of embodiments of theinvention.

In the following description, certain terminology is used to describecertain features of one or more embodiments of the invention. Forinstance “plastic” refers to any natural or synthetic polymer resin suchas cellulose, polyethylene or polystyrene.

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of one embodiment of the skimboardsimulation pool. A cross-section of FIG. 1, at the broken line from A toA¹ is shown in FIG. 4 below. FIG. 1 shows a skimboard simulation pool100 with inflatable walls 105, bottom 110, continuous water source hose112, spray rail 115, water valves 130 and 131, and skimboard 140. Asshown in FIG. 1, the inflatable walls 105 are inflated with water atwater valve 130. Preferably water valve 130 will allow inflation from astandard garden hose. Preferably, water valve 130 also acts as adeflation valve, and allows the user to easily deflate skimboardsimulation pool 100. This easy deflation and inflation of inflatablewalls 105 allows the user to vary the depth of the pool and the rigidityof the inflatable walls 105 during active use. Preferably skimboardsimulation pool 100 is 7 centimeters deep, but skimboard simulation pool100 can range in depth from 0.1 centimeters to 1000 centimeters.

As shown in FIG. 1, water valve 131 preferably is not used to inflate ordeflate inflatable walls 105, but rather it connects to continuous watersource hose 112 and the water from continuous water source hose 112 isdirected to spray rail 115. However, in various embodiments of skimboardsimulation pool 100, water valve 131 can both inflate the inflatablewalls 105 and direct water from continuous water source hose 112 tospray rail 115. FIG. 1 shows that spray rail 115 is preferably only onone side of skimboard simulation pool 100. However, spray rail 115 canbe on two or more sides or on all sides.

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective illustration of one corner of oneembodiment of the skimboard simulation slide. FIG. 2 shows skimboardsimulation slide 200 with inflatable walls 205, spray rails 215, fillingwater 220, spray water 225, and water valve 230. As shown in FIG. 2, thefilling water 220 is continuously replaced by spray water 225.Preferably spray water 225 is delivered to skimboard simulation pool 200through spray rail 215. However, spray water 225 can be deliveredthrough an external mechanism such as an unattached hose, an unattachedsprinkler, or a powered water source without deviating from the scope ofthe invention. As shown in FIG. 2, spray water 225 preferably exitsspray rail 215 through spay holes 216. Preferably, spray holes 216 areevenly spaced along spray rail 215.

FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of one embodiment of the skimboardsimulation pool in use. As shown in FIG. 3, skimboard simulation pool300 has inflatable walls 305, continuous water source hose 312, filingwater 320, and spray water 325. FIG. 3 shows that inflatable walls 305are preferably not rigidly inflated. This allows the inflatable walls305 to deform to the pressure of an entering or exiting user and thenimmediately rebound back into shape. The inflatable walls 305 preferablyallow the user to enter or exit easily and do not act as an obstructionthat completely halts the momentum of the user.

As shown in FIG. 3, spray water 325 replaces the spill water 350 that isforced over the inflatable walls 305 by users entering skimboardsimulation pool 300. The filling water 320 is maintained by spray water325 such that the bottom of the skimboard simulation pool 300 is coveredby water at all times.

FIG. 3 also shows how the skimboard simulation pool 300 is used as partof a system for simulating skimboarding outside the vicinity of anatural water source, such as an ocean, a lake, a river, or a pond. Tosimulate skimboarding, the user 370 runs at the skimboard simulationpool 300, places the skimboard 340 on a surface of the filling water320, steps, kneels, sits, or lays on the skimboard 340, and hydroplanesacross the surface of the filling water 320. FIG. 3 shows user 390mid-hydroplane. When user 390 reaches inflatable wall 305, he or she isnot abruptly stopped, but instead, inflatable wall 305 slows user 390,deforms to allow user 390 to exit the pool slowly, and then rebounds toits original shape.

As shown in FIG. 3, skimboard simulation pool 300 is preferably wideenough so that if the user falls off of the skim board, he or she landsin the shallow water of the pool rather than the ground outside of thepool. Skimboard simulation pool 300 is preferably 2 meters in width, butcan be as narrow as 25 centimeters or as wide as 250 meters. As shown inFIG. 3, skimboard simulation pool 300 is preferably long enough so thatthe users will gradually lose momentum and slow as they reach the otherend of the pool. Skimboard simulation pool 300 is preferably 8 meterslong, but can be as short as 100 centimeters or as long as 1000 meters.As shown in FIG. 3, skimboard simulation pool 300 is generallyrectangular in shape, but it can be any shape that allows users tohydroplane with a skimboard.

Skimboard 340 is preferably a commercial, oval, personal water board orskimboard known in the art, but skimboard 340 can be any flat devicesuch as a hydroplane, disc, ski, board, sled, fin, or other such flatdevice.

FIG. 4 is a detailed illustration of a cross-section of the skimboardsimulation pool. FIG. 4 is a latitudinal cross-section of FIG. 1 from Ato A¹. FIG. 4 shows skimboard simulation pool 400 resting on ground 495with inflatable walls 405, bottom 410, spray rail 415, filling water420, and spray water 425. As shown in FIG. 4, spray rail 415 ispreferably separately inflated from inflated walls 405, and provides acontinuous water source in the form of an evenly spaced spray. FIG. 4also shows that skimboard simulation pool 400 preferably rests on grassyor other soft ground surfaces during use.

Skimboard slide 400 is preferably made from high impact plastic that caneasily withstand the pressure generated by a heavy user jumping on it.However, skimboard slide 400 can be made from any strong, waterinflatable, water impervious material, such as resin or Teflon coatedfabric, fiberglass fabric, rubber, or a combination of materials.

In summary, the present invention is a self-contained, water inflated,and water filled, pool with a continuous source of filling water thatallows users to skim, sluice, or slide on the surface of the water withpersonal water boards, such as skimboards.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the inventionhas been presented for the purposes of illustration and description.While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of thepresent invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe above detailed description, which shows and describes illustrativeembodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the invention iscapable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention.Accordingly, the detailed description is to be regarded as illustrativein nature and not restrictive. Also, although not explicitly recited,one or more embodiments of the invention may be practiced in combinationor conjunction with one another. Furthermore, the reference ornon-reference to a particular embodiment of the invention shall not beinterpreted to limit the scope the invention. It is intended that thescope of the invention not be limited by this detailed description, butby the claims and the equivalents to the claims that are appendedhereto.

1. A skimboard simulation pool, comprising: a plurality of inflatablewalls, and a bottom lining; wherein said plurality of inflatable wallsand said bottom lining define an interior space of said skimboardsimulation pool; wherein said plurality of inflatable walls have anexterior surface and an interior surface that enclose a liquid inflationfluid; and wherein the depth of said inflatable walls is adjustable byinflation or deflation.
 2. The skimboard simulation pool of claim 1,wherein said interior space is continuously filled with a filling liquidsuch that the depth of said filling liquid matches the depth of saidinflatable walls.
 3. The skimboard simulation pool of claim 2, whereinsaid filling liquid is delivered in a continuous and even flow.
 4. Theskimboard simulation pool of claim 3, wherein said filling liquid isdelivered by an evenly spaced water spray system.
 5. The skimboardsimulation pool of claim 4, further comprising a skimboard that iscapable of allowing a user to hydroplane on the surface of saidskimboard simulation pool.
 6. The skimboard simulation pool of claim 1,further comprising a skimboard that is capable of allowing a user tohydroplane on the surface of said skimboard simulation pool.
 7. Askimboard simulation pool, comprising: a plurality of inflatable walls,a bottom lining, and a skimboard; wherein said plurality of inflatablewalls and said bottom lining define an interior space of said skimboardsimulation pool; wherein said plurality of inflatable walls have anexterior surface and an interior surface that enclose a liquid inflationfluid; wherein the depth of said inflatable walls is adjustable byinflation or deflation; wherein said interior space is continuouslyfilled with a filling liquid such that the depth of said filling liquidmatches the depth of said inflatable walls; wherein said filling liquidis delivered in a continuous and even flow by an evenly spaced waterspray system; and wherein said skimboard that is capable of allowing auser to hydroplane on the surface of said skimboard simulation pool. 8.A system of simulating skimboarding without using a natural body ofwater, comprising: a self-contained, water inflated, and water filledpool; a continuous source of filling water; and a skimboard; wherein thedepth of said pool is adjustable; wherein a user runs at said pool,places said skimboard on a surface of said filling water, mounts saidskimboard, and hydroplanes across said surface of said filling water;and wherein a side of said pool does not abruptly stop said user, butinstead deforms and then rebounds in response to said user entering orexiting said pool.